Night TerrorsLooking through our fingers and ranking the best, scariest, dumbest, etc. characters in classic, creative, and totally forgettable horror movies.
Updated July 20, 2023 200.4K votes 13.4K voters 859.5K views
Over 13.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Most Utterly Terrifying Figures In Horror Films
Voting Rules
Vote up the scariest single characters in horror cinema - no groups of characters.
This is a list of the most chillingly terrifying figures in film, as ranked and voted on by horror fans. There are a lot of scary movies out there, some that stick with you in your nightmares and others you just love to peek through your fingers at while shrieking in glee - or maybe even dress up as for Halloween. But then there are the ones that have a particular figure in them, a monster or a man or a pale child... that really makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up - or makes you immediately break out into a sprint. Which is the scariest? Which one is the one you would LEAST like to EVER meet? Vote for your favorite horror movie villains, killers, and otherwise freaky figures and add any you see missing. Be sure to rank your own version if you really want to impact this list!
Leatherface, a monstrous figure who demands your attention with his hulking presence and bone-chilling mask made of human skin, has haunted the nightmares of horror fans for decades. His insatiable hunger for human flesh, paired with his terrifying family dynamic, makes Leatherface one of the most horrifying villains in film history. His grisly weapon of choice, a blood-stained chainsaw, leaves a trail of violent destruction in his wake. Even more unnerving is the chilling fact that this character was inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein.
Freddy Krueger's sadistic nature and twisted sense of humor make him a unique and unforgettable horror villain. He preys on the vulnerable state of his victims while they are asleep, turning their dreams into deadly nightmares they cannot escape. Freddy's grotesquely disfigured face, concealed under a wide-brimmed fedora, and signature razor-blade glove serve as the haunting symbols of this sinister monster. He is unrelenting in his pursuit of terrorizing those he targets, making it impossible for them to find solace even in their slumber.
A sweet young girl possessed by a demonic force becomes one of the most memorable and disturbing characters in horror movie history: Regan MacNeil. Her transformation from innocent child to malevolent demon serves as an unnerving reminder that evil can infiltrate even the purest of souls. With her guttural growls speaking in ancient languages and terrifying displays of otherworldly strength, Regan stands as proof that possession is not just a plot device but a truly horrifying reality.
Pennywise the Dancing Clown embodies every child's worst fear: a sinister figure lurking beneath an innocuous facade. Using its otherworldly powers to conjure up nightmarish illusions to prey on the young, the villain can shape-shift into whatever form it desires, often choosing its victims' deepest fears. Pennywise's malicious grin and haunting stare are enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. His twisted sense of humor, coupled with the unpredictability of his methods, makes Pennywise one of the most captivating and unnerving movie monsters of all time.
Michael Myers is an insidious force of nature that has haunted audiences for over four decades. He stalks his victims with a detached silence, making his presence unknown until it is too late. With his blank white mask and dark jumpsuit, Michael represents a faceless and unstoppable evil. The sense of dread that builds around each of Myers's kills leaves viewers on edge long after they've left the theater.
Chatterer is a truly grotesque villain whose appearance alone is enough to make your skin crawl. With mutilated flesh covering his face and teeth incessantly chattering together like something out of a nightmare, this silent killer seems incapable of any shred of humanity. Chatterer acts as an enforcer for other sinister creatures, showing no mercy and displaying horrific brutality in carrying out their wishes.
